743.9

Seven hundred forty-three point nine miles – the exact mileage we completed of the Appalachian Trail before deciding to set aside our thru-hiking plans. After about 2.5 months, we are officially off the trail!

The decision wasn’t necessarily an easy one, but we are confident that it was the right one. Alex getting sick was not the reason we left, but it was definitely a catalyst after weeks of building feelings. What it really came down to was that we couldn’t see ourselves doing the same thing – hiking 8+ hours a day – every day for the next 4 months. We tried switching things up to add some variety by hiking separately, listening to audiobooks, doing day hikes and returning to a place where we could cook. It was all just prolonging the conversation about the elephant in the room…we were over it.

We didn’t quit on a bad day, in fact we had several beautiful weather days and hikes through nice parts of Virginia at the end of our trip. The topic just bubbled to the surface one morning and we were both on the same page, it felt like it was time to move on. It felt strange to make the decision. We talked about it, slept on it, and talked about it some more. While we were sure we didn’t want to continue, we also mourned the end of our AT adventure! It was a strange feeling to end it.

It’s been over a week since we’ve been off the trail, and I thought maybe some regret would surface or longing to get back would come up, but neither have. We are both proud of what we accomplished. Over 1/3 of the Appalachian Trail – 743.9 miles! It kicked our asses, got us in shape, slowed us down a bit, and provided us with a lot of time to think. Not to mention gave us a solid taste of what it takes to thru-hike. We met some really amazing people on the trail, had some of the most intense hikes of my life, and allowed me to eat whatever the hell I wanted for a solid 10 weeks – maybe one of the best parts 🙂 It was an unforgettable experience and I am happy to have done it! The above picture is the last photo we took together on the trail. A nice memory of cooling our tired feet in a stream.

So, after so much time in the South, we were craving a different energy. We are currently sitting at Boyce’s Motel in Stonington, Maine – Maine’s largest lobster port. We plan on road tripping around New England for the next few weeks until the end of May when we will regroup in Michigan, visit with friends and family, and plan the next few months. We are both looking forward to more adventures ahead!